Selector mechanism



A. F. HORLACHER 1,783,122

SELECTOR MECHANI SM Nov. 25', 1930.

Filed May '7, 192"! 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 flQEHorZacher INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1930. HQRLAGHER 1,783,122

SELECTOR MECHANI SM Filed May 7, 1927 s SheetsSheet s INVENTOR [f6 ATTORNEY Nov. 25,1930. HQRLACHER 1,783,122

SELECTOR MECHANI SM Filed May 7, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gay/0.

60 l rjVENTOR ATTO R N EY Nov. 25, 19 30. HQRLACHER 1,783,122

SELECTOR MECHANISM Filed May 7', 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov.- 25, 1930 UNITED STATES ALBERT F. FIORLACHER, OF FREDON IA, NEW YORK SELECTOR MECHANISM Application filed May 7,

This invention relates to an electro-magnetic selector, which may be used for Wire and wireless telegraphy, etc., the general obj ect of the invention being to provide a mag- 5 net for operating ratchet mechanism to rtate a member which carries a brush which forms part of a commutator which makes and breaks the circuit of the magnet, with a plurality of keys for controlling the circuit of W the commutator in such a manner that by depressing a key, the device can be brought to rest at any desired point, with means on the rotary member for controlling a circuit of a receiving device.

This invention'also consists in certain other features-of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be Had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which I Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of the invention. 2

FigureQ is a detail View partly in section, showing one of the keys and the means for controlling the circuit to the commutator thereby. j

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the key depressed.

Figure 4c is an elevation fied form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a plan View of this modification. I

Figure 6 is a section online 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure? is a section on line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional detail View showin the ribbon carrying Wheels and the commutatordisk' and their associated parts, of the modification.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view. of the circuits of this modification.

Figure 10 is a view of one of the keys of said modification and its contact members.

showing a modithe casing 18 which carries a I by a spring 1927. Serial No. isaeso.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of a receiving device.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, 1 indicates a shaft supported for rotary movement and to which is fastened a brush arm 2 which is insulated from the shaft and which is adapted to move over a commutator disk 3 which is supported in a stationary manner adjacent the arm so that its contacts 4: will be engaged by the end of the arm during the rotation of said arm. The shaft also carries a ratchet disk 5 and an armature arm 6 is loosely mounted on the shaft and carries the pawl 6 for engaging the ratchet disk 5. A. bracket 7 is supported in such a manner that the free end of the arm will work between the limbs of the bracket and the extent of movement of the arm is adjustable through means of the set screws 8 and 9 which are carried by the limbs of said bracket.

A magnet 10 is arranged below the arm and will pull the arm downwardly when the magnet is energized, against the action of a spring 11 which is connected with the arm and to a stationary part 12. A. conductor 13 connects one end of the coil of the magnet with the screw 8 and a conductor 14 connects the other end of the coil with the brush arm 2. A conductor 15 connects the support 12 andthe spring 11 with the negativeterminal of a battery B;- The positive terminal of the battery is connected by a conductor 16 with a brass plate 17 which is arranged in plurality of keys 19, each of which is held in raised position 20 arranged in the casing. Each spring 20 is connected by a. conductor 21 with a contact 4 of the commutator. When in raised position, the springs 20 bf each row of keys engage a brass strip 22 on the top oi the casing, the strips 22 being electrically connected together by the conductors 22. At each end of each row of keys or pushbuttons, is a brass spring 23 which is insulated from the brass plate 17 by the strip 24 of non-conducting material and each pairof springs 23 supports a strip 25 of non-conducting material, thjsstrip 25 being so arranged that when a key or pushbutton is depressed, the end of the plate 17 will cause the pawl 6' will continue until thedesired key.

the spring 20 of said key will engage the strip 25 and then when the key is further depressed, the strip and the springs 23 connects ed with each strip 25 will be depressed until the springs 23 engage the plate 17. I Conductors 26 connect the springs 23 with the strip 22. Thusupon the depression of any key, will be electrically connected with all the strips 22 through means of the pair of springs 23 which are depressed by the non- "conducting strip 25 of that row 0% keys, one

of which has been pushed downwardly and the conductor 26 which is connected with one of the strips 22, this strip 22 being connected with the other strips 22 by the conductors 22. It will, of course, be understood that the plate 17 extends under all the springs 23.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the circuit is broken by the springs-23 being out of engagement with the plate 17, but when a key is depressed its spring 20 will move out of engagement with the bar 22 and into engagement with the insulated bar 25 and then further movement of the key will cause the springs 23, which carry thebar 25, to engage the plate 17 which is connected with the battery. This will complete the circuit to the contacts of the commutator through plate 17, springs 23, conductor 26, strip 22, the springs 20 of the keys which are not depressed and conductors 21 of said keys.-- The circuit of.

key is broken, as its spring is resting against the insulated strip 25. The current will flow through the contact with which the brush 2 is in engag'ementand then pass from the brush over conductor 14 through the magnet to conductor 13 and the depressed through screw 8, armature 6, spring 11, support 12 and conductor 15 to the battery. Thus the magnet will be energized so that the armature is pulled downwardly thereby, which to move the ratchet disk 5 one tooth, which will cause the shaft to move with it. As the armature leaves the screw- 8, the circuit will be broken so that the spring 11 will pull the armature back against the screw 8,-which will place the pawl 6' in engagement with the next tooth of the ratchet disk. Then the current will flow through the nextcontact 4 t the magnet and thusthe ratchet and thes ft will be moved another step. This step by s p movement of the parts the brush 2 reaches the contact 4 which is connected with the spring 20 of the depressed key 19, when the parts will come to rest, due-to the fact that the circuit is broken by the spring of the depressed key being out of engagement with the strip 22. Then the'key can be released and as its spring moves upwardly, the springs 23 will move ofi the plate 17 and thus break the circuits of allthe keys. "In this way, the shaft 1 can be moved to any desired extent by pushing upon A disk 27, carrying the contacts 28, is

fastened tothe shaft, and a brush 29 engages the periphery of the disk, said disk and brush acting as means for controlling a circuit to a 7 receiving device.

This selector could be used to send secret messages either by wire or wireless telegraphy. A wheel, having on its periphery the letters of the alphabet, the numeral-s and punctuation marks could be attached to the shaft 1, eachmovement of the ratchet causing the letter wheel to movea space of one letter. on the shaft 1, a commutator, such as 27, would be' attached, having the same num ber of cofitacts as the commutator 3. This second commutator is to be connected into. the line or radio transmitter in place of the key to make the breaks, one break corresponding to each time the letterwheel moves forwardly a distance of one letter. The re ceiving device wouldbe practically the same, but without the pushbuttons and the commutator 3. The letter Wheels ,at the sending and receiving end would have to have the characters arranged in the same order and both would have to start from the same character. Blank spaces could be left on the letter wheel to increase the deception.

In the modification, I provide means whereby the brush can be moved in either direction instead of in but one direction, as shown in Figure 1. In this case, the shaft 1 carries a gear 5' and a pair of oppositely arranged pawls"30* and31 are arranged to engage the gear. Each pawl is pivoted to a frame 32 which is pivoted to thashaft, one on one side of the gear and the other on the other side thereof. Armatures 33 and 34 .are pivoted to the shaft and extend in opposite directions ,and are arrangedon opposite sides of the gear and each armature is connected with a 'pawl by a. link'35. Each armature works between the adjustable stops 36 carried by the frame so that the frame is-tilted by the movement of the armature. The outer end of each armature also works between the adjustable stops formed by the screws 37 carried by the bracket 13'. An insulated member 38' is fas tened to the outer'end of each armature and carries a conductingstrip 39 which is adaptedfto engage the end of the top screw 37 when-the armature I tor strip isconnected with the spring 11' connected to a screw 40 carried by a bracket 41,

- said springtending to hold'the armature in raised position. The magnets for the armatures are shown at 42 and 43, The brush arm 2' carries a frame 44 in which is supported a shaft 45 onwhi'ch is rotatably sup-- ported the brushiwll'eel 46' andthe drums 47,

' the said drumssbeingt" formed, of non-conducting material and the metal strips 48 and49, one strip being wound in an opposite direction from the other and a'spring 50 arranged in pach drum tends to hold the strip of'said drum in'wound up is raised. This conducaving wound thereon hold the main circuit with the contact 4 condition thereon. These parts are so arcontacts 4' on the commutator member 3, with the free end of the strip 48 fastened to contact member 1 which is formed of-two parts and the free end of the strip 49 fastened to contact member 100 which'is also formed in two parts. The free end of contact 1 is connected by a conductor 51 with a small magnet 52, while the free end of contact 100 is connected by a conductor 53 with a small magnet 54, these magnets controlling a spring switch arm which is arranged in the main circuit of the device and is connected with the brush arm 2 by the conductor 56. A contact 57 is arranged adjacent each of the magnets 52 and 54 tor engagement by the switch arm 55 when the arm is attracted by the magnets, and each contact 57 is connected by a conductor 58 with a spring 11 of each armature 33 and 34.

Each strip 39 is connected by a conductor 59 with each of the magnets 42 and 43. and these magnets are connected with the battery 'B' by the conductors 60. Thus it will be seen that the switch 55in its normal position will of the device open and it will be necessary to energize either the magnet 52 or the magnet 54 to close said circuit. The springs 20 of the keys 19' are normally in engagement with the brass bar 22'. which is connected by the conductor 16 with the battery B. A brass'bar 61 is adapted to be engaged by the springs on the depression of the keys and this bar 61 isconnected by a conductor 62 to a battery B" which is also connected with the magnets 54 and 52 by the conductors 63. Of course, the connected to the contacts 4 of the commutator by the conductors 21, as in the first form of the invention. A pair of insulated pins 64.and is carried by the frame 44,'

the pin 64 acting to hold the strip 49 in engagement with the contact 4 in rear of the contact which is engaged by the brush wheel 46, while the pin 65 holds the strip 48 in engagement with the contact 4 in front of the one upon which the wheel 46 rests sothat neither the strip 48 or 49 is in engagement with which the brush wheel 46 is in engagement.

On the depression of a key or button 19, its spring 20 will move out of engagement with the bar 22, which is electrically connected with the battery B and then said spring 20 moves into engagement with the bar 61 which is, in electrical engagement with the battery B. Thus current will flow from said battery B through the bar 61, spring 20 of the key which has been depressed, con- I ductor 21 to the contact 4 to which said con- 7 ductor is connected. It will then pass over 7 that strip 48 M49 which happens to be in I engagement with said contact "(say 49) to the springs 20 are conductor 53; to magnet 54 and back to the. ranged that the wheel 46 will engage the b attery over conductor 63.. This will energize magnet 54 so that it will attract the switch arm 55 and as this arm engages the contact 57 of the magnet 54, it will close the main circuit of the device, as described in the first form' of the invention. This main arm 55, conductor 58, conductor strip 39 on' armature 34 to magnet 43 over conductor 59 and back to the-battery over conductor 60. As the armature 34 moves downwardly, it will strike the lower stop 36 on the frame 32, thus tilting the frame on the shaft and causing said frame, through the link 35, to move the pawl 31 into engagement with the tooth of the gear5 and thus move said gear one tooth. As the circuit is broken by the-downward movement of the armature, the spring 11' will return the armature and on this return movement, the armature will strike the upper stop 36, thus throwing the frame upwardly and causing it to move the pawl 31 rearwardly to a point where it will rest over another tooth of the gear and thus be ready to engage said tooth on the next downward movement of the armature. Thus the parts will be given a step by step movement, as before described.

Whenthe brush wheel comes into en agement with the contact 4, the key of which is depressed, the circuit will be broken and the parts will come to rest. Then the key is released so that current will cease to flow through the magnet 54 and this will release the switch 55 so that the inoperative position. If a key is depressed which would cause the current to flowthrough the strip 48, the magnet 52 would be energized to attract the switch 55 and then current would pass through the magnet 42, which would cause the parts to move in a step by step manner in an opposite direction frompressed.

As will be seen, the strip 49 passes around the commutator in one direction from the frame 44 and the commu tor in an opposite direction, both strips eing out of engagement with'the con-, tact on which the wheel 46 rests. if a key is depressed which is connec ed with a. contact in front of the wheel .4fij the current will fiow through the strip 4 parts are then all in strip 48 passes around the Therefore,

and its attached parts can move in ,butifa' I key is depressed which 1 The shaft 1' of this selector-may be coupled the selector will automatically ribbon 49 to the shaft of a single control radio receiver and the receiver may be tu ed by depressing the correct pushbutton, thii p/ ing control at the division at which the desired station is heard. If a station is heard at a setting of 67 and it is desired to listen to one which is heard at a setting of 6, it is only necessary to depress pushbutton 6 and reverse and come to restat contact 6 of the commutator which corresponds to a setting of 6 of the tuning control. The following is a description of the operation of this form of the invention The contact wheel rests upon contact 95 of the contacts 4' and it is desired to revolve it to contact 89. Pushbutton #89 is depressed. First the pushbutton spring breaks the circuit between contact 89 and the brass bar 22 which is connected to the negative battery B. As the spring 20 is further depressed, it makes a circuitbetween the negative terminal of the battery and the contact #89, through the bar 61. .Since the brush wheel 46 is on contact #95, the strip or passes over all contacts from #1 to #953- and the strip or ribbon 48 passes over all contacts from #100 to #95. Neither ribbon passes over contact 95. Ribbon 49 passes over contact 89 and is connected to one termireverse direction (counter clockwise).

nal of the magnet 54. The other terminal of magnet 541s connected to the positive termi-. nal of the battery B". Hence the magnet'54 'willattract the iron switch lever 55. This makes a complete circuit through the reverse magnet 43 and' the armature 34 will be attracted bythe magnet. 43. descends, pawl 31 will be brought into mesh with the gear 5, the armature then strikes the frame 32, thus moving one tooth in the The lower stops 37 are insulated. The brush wheel will then be moved to the next contact, armature to the stop" 36 and moves the the pawl 31 a distance of the brush wheel'- 46 rests upon contact #89. As the brush wheel 46 moves from contact 90 to contact 89, the ribbon 49 which has been cuit through the winding up on the reel 47, will be wound up from contact #89, thereby breaking the cirmagnet 54 and releasing the switch lever 55.

clockwise direction s setting the tunterminal of the v the spring 82 As the armature The pushbutto'n is then released. The same operation takes place when it is desired to move the contact Wheel in a clockwise direction, except that magnet 42 is connected to the circuit.

Since all contacts in the commutator in from the brush wheel t9 100 are connected to the ribbon 48, any pushbutton depressed between the contact wheel will make a circuit through the magnet 52 and close the circuit through the magnet 42, thus making the gear travel in a clockwise direction, and since all contacts in the commutator in a counter-clockwise direction from the contact wheel to 1 are connected to the ribbon 49, any pushbutton depressed between the one on which the contact Wheel rests and 1 will make a circuit through the magnet 54 and close .the circuit through the magnet 43, making the gear travel in a counter-clockwise \Vhenthis unit is coupled to the.

direction. shaft a single control radio receiver, it will be nec ssary to place a gear 7 O on shaft 1 onehalf the size of a gear 71 on the shaft 72 of the radio receiver control in order toreduce the 360 movement of the selector to av 180 movement of the radio control. Figure 11 shows a fprm of receiving device which may be used with the invention. This receiver operates as follows 7 An incoming signal from parts 27 and 29 of Figure 1', for instance, magnet 7 3 which 'will' arm 80 ofcommutator 81 to be connected to the solenoid actuating the desired key. When the rapid success1on of incoming signals ceases, the circuit at 77 will be open and when lifts the armature 7 8 into contact with the spring 83, no current will "flow i will energize the relay I attract the arma-. ture.-74 and'close the circuit 75 through L 'M etc, one-for each 7 A number of signals comingthrough the magnets 76 and the spring 82 will lift the armature'78' against the tension of a the spring 82 into contact with screw 84, thus closing the circuit through the s'olenoidmagnet which isconnected to the contact arm 80 and the typewriter key will be depressed. This same selector may be used for controlling other devices, such as torpedos.

It is thought from the foregoing descrip-. tion that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement/of the severalparts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims. i

What I claim is comprising a shaft, a commutator having its arm connected 7 with the shaft, magnetic means forgiving the shaft a stepby step rotation, a circuit for the magnetic means including the commutator and key operated means arranged in the circuit for controlling the extent of movement of the parts, such key operated means comprising a. plurality of keys arranged in rows, a spring assoclated with each key, said means being connected with that part of the circuit which is connected with the commutator, a plate arranged under the keys and connected with the other part of the circuit, a plurality of springs inholding the strips out of engagement with sulated from the plate but contacting the platewhen depressed, a conducting strip associated with each row of keys and normally engaged by the springs of the keys, means for electrically connecting the conducting strips together, means for electrically connecting one of the strips with the springs carried by the plate, strips of non-conducting material carried By the springs on the plate and engaged by the springs of the keys when a key is depressed whereby the plate will be electrically connected with the springs of the keys which are not depressed, while the spring of the depressed key will be out ofelectrical contact with the conducting strips and the plate. p v

2. A selector device of the class described comprising a shaft, a commutator operated thereby, magnetic means for giving the'shaft a step by step movement in one direction, a second set of magnetic means for giving the shaft a step by step movement in the opposite direction, circuits includingthe commutator and the magnetic means, a. switch for closing the circuits through either one of the mag-. netic means or the other, key operated means for closing the circuits of all the commutator contacts except'that, the key of which is de-- pressed and means associated with the commutator and operated" by the key actuated means for moving the switch to close the circuit of one magnetic means or the other, such means including a pair of drumson the brush shaft of the commutator, a strip connected with each drum, said strips passing around the commutator in opposite directions, with one strip connected to one contact of the commutator and the other with the next contact, springmeans f normally holding the drums with the strips i ognd thereon and means for that contact which is engaged by the brush. In testimony whereof I aifix my slgnature.

ALBERTF. HORLACHER. 

